Spotlight on May Claytor
May Claytor
In my job in the investment world, certifications are required to give a person opportunity to take on responsibilities and be considered for promotions. There’s no absolute demand for a bachelor’s degree. So when I enrolled in the Business Administration Major at Franklin University, I was doing it to fulfill a long-wanted goal and to make my parents proud. My road to completing my degree came with a few side trips along the way. As a student leader in a private high school, I was one of those bright kids expected to go on to college and really take on the world. But when I got to college, I discovered a new side of myself — a new, rather irresponsible side. I replaced my studies with parties and didn’t think too far into the future. But a few years into the “good life,” I had a wake-up call when my father went to the hospital. Although his medical emergency passed and he survived, I suddenly saw life very differently. I realized that my dad, the guy who always took care of me, his only daughter, might not be invincible after all. The experience scared me so badly that I quit my frivolous ways, got a job, got my own apartment, and essentially got myself together. A few years into the exciting investment world at Smith Barney, I’d laid a strong foundation for a solid career. Yet my parents’ desire for me to finish college haunted me. I knew I would never rest well in my professional success until I completed that goal. My parents are both in education, and my father has his master’s degree, so they had a natural expectation that I would achieve this important milestone. Franklin University was an obvious choice for me. The evening classes let me continue giving the attention I needed to my work, while also letting me devote time to my studies. For three years I lived a very structured life to make my education goals come true, and it’s been worth every passed-up social engagement. My business courses have given me a more well-rounded understanding of the world in which I work. My professors were awesome; they really brought a lot of real-world knowledge to every class. All in all, I’m thrilled with what I learned at Franklin, as well as along the entire road to earning my degree. When I walked across the stage to receive my diploma, just knowing my parents were in the audience watching me made every step along the way worth it. I’m grateful that Franklin gives working adults like me a second chance to start over and get it right — education, career... life!
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